Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-03-20
CHAPTER VIII.
A CHANGE.

after a month or two, IL became evident
he was not the same. He had been an I'M
usually calm, self-eOntrOlled man before
the accident that befell him on the State
Line turnpike. Especially, though by ma
ture quickly angry, he had his temper well
in hand. Shirley noticed that he had be-
come unaceountably irritable. The slight
est cause. a trile, threw him into an UNI
comfortable nlge.
The brSt time she observed this they
were riding together in the little light car
riage. Her father was driving. A boy
started up before them in the road, then
skunk to one side. HE was the torlOrn
tattedemalion OF a child, a mass OF rags
and dirt tie was q picture to excite pro
found pity, being stunted and starved look
ing, with STOPPING shoulders and narrow
hollow chest. He had large blue eyes, that
looked CLASSY above his thin cheeks. But
they were shifting furuve eyes, As if won
to glance from side to side, looking for .
blow from behind, or for something to lay
hands on, aud make OF with. He WAS a
wee, hungry faced creature.
What a pitiful looking child" said
Shirley.
THAT That's the little devil that lost
me tie sOTrel colt. Get ont Of the way,
there, you
Colonel Carstone gave the child a cut
across the poor little shoulders with his
whip. The chrld cried with pain.
why, father said Shirley. "EIOw
could YOU do that2'
Let him keep out of my sight, then.
In all his life he had never spoken 50 be-
fore. She said nothing; not q word till
they reached home. Neither did the col
Ouel. But Shirley Straightway gathered
up same nSPcrcy's clothes, a basket Of the
fOOSAhat% dear to the appetite of 4 boy,
and went back 70 the road, and found the
half starved creature, and fed and COM
fOrted him. Twas poor little Rip, the
baby tramp. She interceeded with the
local authorities fOr him. lie did not be
long to LinwOod parts, or indeed anywhere
else.
I'VE can do nothing for him. He's none
of ours, - they said.
''But you can't turn him out 10 Starye,
can you?' she asked.
They ''recOned' they couldn't do that,
hardly. So after some delay, and mnch
hemming and having. Rip, NobOdy's child
WAS sent to the county pOOrhOuSe. There
he had food and shelter, such rs they were.
There We leave him, for the present. But
he will come in again. Though he did not
belong TO LinwOOd, he belongs TO this
story.
The brief mt OF anger which surprised
Shirley 80 thatday in her father WAS only
the first OF many like it. lie who was
wont 10 he the sweetest, merrieSt Of men
TO his family became a terror to them at
times. What hld came over their father?
He realized the change himself, at times,
and begged the forgiveness and rnrehear
ance uf his wife and daughter in II humble
way that brought tears IA their eyes.
tie was not well in other respects either.
He dragged his limbs with q sense Of pain
and h~eavineSs, though he went about the
mill and farm still, and followed the old
ways. One day he sat in the porch with
the children and their mother, looking out
al the peaceful valley below. A sudden
gust vi WIN bltN u NpNNN VI NfNASb"Ah-
into his eye. The speck proved to be a
poisonous guat. IL blinded him. The eye
became presently so swollen and painful
TINT 10 was necessary to shut out the light.
Shirley bound a handage about the wound
ell eye.
stop, shirley" he don't cover up both
eyes
81 didn't papa; l only bound up the
right eye"
lie pissed his hand across the left eve TO
make sure. lie opened and closed the lid
several times.
Then h. sat in utter silence a moment.
God help me- he said at length, IL
am going blind in my left eye.'
1t was too true. The sight of the eye
was all gone but the %flinteSt glimmering
of a gray like twilight. lie was unable
TO distinguish one object from another with
that eve. Other signs of failing powers
followed. His memory had heen clear and
powerful. Now he lost recollection Of inn
portant matters. Images Of people and
events became confused in his brain. He
forgot sometimes the names of his chill
dren, and called one by the name OF an
other. 4 pain his head troubled him.
With a sinking heart the faithful daugh-
ter watched these signs. 10 was unutter-
ably sal 20 see such symptoms Of decay in
this man Of princelY heart and brain. At
last the girl observed that her father could
not speak certain words distinctly any
more His articulation was thick and dit
fcult, like that Of a drunken man. But
this not the worst. Others, outside Of the
stone house began TO notice the change, too
and to talk Of il. Ere long the e~verlast-
Mis- Simpkins tackled black Sam in the
village. Said she:
It's heginnin' to be ~whimpered about
among folks hyer in town that Colonel Car
stone is loSin' Of his mind"
"Whot in thunder you talkin' about
replied sam with an indignant air. He
had heard Colonel CarSt~ne say that aud
thought il sounded hightOned.
That there might he no possibility oi
misunderstanding, Mis- Simpkins came
out flat footed with the question:
Ross goin' crazy, amt he2'
Sam lared mp nightly. The honor Of
the CarStone family hung upon him. He
felt the responsibility Of the occasion. He
answered:
.'Gormitv. Mis- Simpkins, LinwOOd
peoples q pack 20 pO' white trash, da'tS
what dey ar. Folks whats got plenty
brains don't 90 crazy. Ii don't run in der
families. It's only yer po' trash dat loses
der Minis, an deS lose EN- huntin' arter
other peoples business. | spects TO hyar
dat all LinwOOd's moved into de l~Onnatic
asylum hefo' long. YAH yahr' With a
twinkle Of white teeth. and q bObbing of
gray head, sam turned his back on Lin
wood.
But he looked very grave when next day
Colonel CarStone said he meant 10 start
that afternoon 10 the city. \ look Of in
telligence passed between Shirley and the
old S~ervitOr.
'Papa," said Shirley, don't Won think
Sam had better 60 with you?" 1t irritated
him.
al think" he answered, that I am still
capable of taking care OF myself"
I'Oh we'll noOffenSe Colonel CarStOnP -